Albert a



STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT A. HOPKINS, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, AND WILKINSON DE FOREST WRIGHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGAR-TIP CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,332, dated May 8, 1894. Application filed November 11,1893. Serial No. 490,657. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. HOPKINS, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Oigar-Tip Outter,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved cigar tip cutter, with 1 the casing removed. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse longitudinal section taken on line 3--3 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the cutter and its case. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section taken on line 55 in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a transverse section. taken on line 66 in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a perspcctive view of the cutter with the casing removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The object of my invention is toprovide a simple, com pact and efficient cigar tip cutter, which will remove the tip Without crushing the cigar or breaking the Wrapper.

My invention consists in the combination of devices for holding the cigar while being out, a cutter for removing the tip, and a gage for regulating the length of cigar tip to be removed, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

My improved cigar tip cutter is designed to be carried in the pocket, worn as a watch charm, or to be made a fixture on the counter of the cigar dealer. j

Opposite edges of the base plate A, which supports the other parts of the cutter, are turned over the face of the plate, parallel thereto, forming guide grooves a, for receiving the plate B and the knife O, and the end of the base plate A is turned outward at right angles, to form a foot I). In the base plate A, about equally distant from the foot 17 and the edges of the plate, there is an oblong opening 0, and on the side of the opening nearest the foot I), the base plate is thickened, and the plate along the inner edge of the thickened portion is provided with serrations d. In the guide grooves a is placed the clamping plate B, having an oblong opening e, corresponding to the opening 0 in the base plate. One end of the openinge, whichis square, fits over the projection formed by thickening the base plate A, around the side of the aperture c. The opposite end of the opening in the clamping plate B, is made semi-circular, and provided with serrations (1' corresponding to the serrations d at the opposite side of the opening 0. This partof the plate B is thickened, and the thickened portion projects through the opening 0 of the base plate A. By this construction, the serrations d and d are brought exactly opposite each other. The end of the plate B adjoining the foot I) is bent outwardly, forming a short arm f, to which is attached abowed spring g, which bears upon the foot I).

The knife 0, which is placed in the grooves a, is furnished with a longitudinal slot h, at

one end of which is located the stud 41 in which is secured one end of the rod j, the other end of the said rod being inserted in a hole in the stud 7c projecting from the clamping plate B the said rod j being arranged to slide in the hole in the stud 7t. studs i and k, and upon the rod j, is placed an open spiral spring 1, which presses the studs 1', it, apart. The spring 1 is stronger than the spring 9, so that when the knife 0 is pressed toward the foot 17, the clamping plate B is carried forward into contact with the cigar inserted in the opening 0, and the cigar is pressed, when the spring Z yields to the increased pressure necessary to push forward the knife (Land the edge of the knife severe the tip fromthe body of the cigar. To give to the knife 0 a drawing cut, the cutting edge is made diagonal, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The outer end of the knife 0 is provided with a finger piece m. 0

To the back of the base plate A, adjoining the serrations d, is secured a curved guide D, and to a sliding offset bar n is secured a curved guide E, corresponding in form to the guide D. The bar it is slotted to receive the stud 0, and it is provided with a screw or button 10, by which itmay be moved to adjust the distance between the guides D, E, to correspond to the size of the cigar tip to be cut.

' Although the device thus described can be roe used without a casing, I prefer to insert it in the casing F, provided with the movable cap Between the 75 r G, having suitable openings on opposite sides to correspond with the openings in the cutter. In such case, the screw or button 19 projects through a slot in the side of the casing, and the fixed guide D will be attached to or formed on the casing, as shown in Fig. 5. The foot I) is secured to the bottom of the casing, and the finger piece m is attached to the inside of the cap G, so that when it is desired to 0perate the cutter it is only necessary to press down the cap G, which moves the knife and the clamping plate in the manner already described the clamping devices grasping the part of the cigar tip that is to be severed by the knife, compressing and crimping it before the knife reaches the cigar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a cigar tip cutter, the base plate A provided with an opening 0 and having serrations d, the apertured clamping plate B provided With serrations (Z, the movable knife 0 arranged to slide along the face of the clamping plate, and means, substantially as described, for causing the serrated edges of the base plate and clamping plate to engage the cigar in advance of the knife 0, as specified.

2. The combination in a cigar tip cutter, of an apertured base plate, a sliding knife, and two curved guides located upon the lower surface of the base plate and parallelwith the knife, one of the guides being held in a fixed position at one side of the opening of the base plate, the other guide being adjustable and located at the other side of the opening of the base plate, the guides being adapted to regulate the length of the tip removed, by admitting to the cutter more or less of the tip according to the adjustment of the guides, as herein described.

3. The combination in the base plate A, having the foot I) at one end thereof and provided with guide grooves a and the opening 0, a movable clamping plate a cigar tip cutter, of

B having an opening e therein, the knife 0,

the said plate and knife having their edges inserted in the guide grooves a, a fixed clamping jaw 61 formed on the base plate at one side of the opening therein, a movable clamping jaw d formed on the clamping plate B and moving therewith, the jaws being arranged in the same plane parallel with the knife and on opposite sides of the opening in the base plate and the spring Z connecting the knife 0 with the clamping plate B, Whereby the clamping plate and knife are made to move together until the clampingplate strikes the cigar tip, Z allows the knife to sever the cigar tip, as herein specified.

4. The combination in a cigar tip cutter, of the base plate A, having the foot I) at one end thereof and provided with guide grooves a and the opening 0, a movable clamping plate B having an opening 6 therein, the knife 0, the said plate and knife having their edges inserted in the guide grooves a, a fixed clamping jaw 01 formed .onthe base plate at one side of the opening therein, a movable clamping jaw 01 formed on the clamping plate B and moving therewith, the jaws being arranged in the same plane parallel with the knife and on opposite sides of the opening in the base plate the retractile spring g for returning the clamping plate B to the point of starting, and the springlconnecting the knife 0 with the clamping plate B, whereby the clamping plate and knife are made to move together until the clamping plate strikes the cigar tip, when the yielding of the spring Z allows the knife to sever the cigar tip, as herein specified.

5. The combination in a cigar tip cutter, of the base plate A, having the foot I) at one end thereof and provided with guide grooves a and the opening 0, a movable clamping plate B having an opening e therein, the knife 0, the said plate and knife having their edges inserted in the guide grooves a, a fixed clam ping jaw (1 formed on the base plate at one side of the opening therein, a movable clamping jaw (1 formed on the clamping plate B and moving therewith, the jaws being arranged in the same plane parallel with the knife and on opposite sides of the opening in the base plate, the retractile spring 9 for returning the clamping plate B to the point of starting, the springlconnecting the knifeOwith the clamping plate B, the adjustable cigar tip gage, the casing F, and the movable guide G, as specified.

ALBERT A. HOPKINS.

WVitnesses:

T. OOoNoR SLoANE, EDGAR TATE.

when the yielding of the spring 

